NRC Postdoctoral Fellows At NSSL

Who are they? Where are they now?

Jeffrey Snyder · 2013–2015 · University of Oklahoma, 2013

In his graduate studies, Jeff examined attenuation correction and hydrometeor classification schemes applied to high-resolution data collected by a polarimetric, X-band mobile radar. His dissertation research catalogued polarimetric signatures associated with supercells as seen by two polarimetric mobile radars, and he investigated the polarimetric structures and evolution of simulated supercells produced by high-resolution numerical simulations. Jeff’s NRC research is staying within the realm of radar polarimetry by examining the relationships between observed polarimetric signatures and the microphysical characteristics of convective storms.

Patrick Skinner · 2013–2015 · Texas Tech University, 2013

At Tech, Patrick worked on an observational and EnKF analysis of multiple internal rear-flank downdraft momentum surges in a VORTEX2 case. His NRC fellowship work will focus on assimilation of phased-array radar data (MPAR) for convective-scale numerical weather prediction.

Michael French · 2012–2014 · University of Oklahoma 2012

Michael's dissertation work explored the short-time-scale, volumetric evolution of tornadic vortex signatures associated with five tornadoes observed with a mobile phased-array radar from 2008–2011. His current work at NSSL is focused on polarimetric radar observations of tornadic and non-tornadic supercells observed by NSSL's NOXP mobile radar during VORTEX2.

Robin Tanamachi · 2012–2014 · University of Oklahoma, 2011

Robin's research interests encompass radar-based studies of severe weather phenomena, particularly tornadoes and tornadic storms. As a Ph.D. candidate and CAPS postdoc, she collaborated with NSSL scientists to produce a set of high-resolution analyses of the 4 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas, tornadic supercell by assimilating mobile Doppler radar data into a numerical weather prediction model. For her NRC postdoctoral fellowship, which runs from 2012–2014, she is working with the Phased Array Meteorological Studies Team (PAMST) to study the role of storm mergers related to tornado production in central Oklahoma severe weather outbreaks observed by the NWRT phased array radar.

Sean Crowell · 2012–present · University of Oklahoma, 2011

Sean worked on data assimilation of boundary layer thermodynamic profilers for better diagnosing the mesoscale storm environment using NWP models. He now works at the University of Oklahoma as a full-time researcher.

Nathan Hitchens · 2010–present · Purdue University, 2010

After completing his tenure at the NSSL, Nathan returned to his alma mater, Ball State University, where he is currently an instructor. He is also serving as a research fellow with CIMMS, working closely with members of the Storm Prediction Center's Science Support Branch to develop a verification package for the SPC's convective outlook products.

Corey Potvin · 2010–present · University of Oklahoma, 2010

Corey is now a CIMMS/NSSL research scientist within the Warn-on-Forecast program. He is primarily tasked with helping develop a prototype storm-scale NWP ensemble to provide probabilistic hazard guidance, particularly for tornadoes.

Institute for Nuclear Research of NAS of Ukraine, 2005 Lesya has been working on development of a methodology for deriving the rain rate relations RWS(ZH) and RWS (KDP) for a bright band (BB) region (where KDP is the specific differential phase and was obtained from a least square fit of the radial slope of differential phase ΦDP ).

Adam Clark · 2009–2011 · Iowa State University, 2009

Currently a research scientist at CIMMS, Adam works with NSSL's Collaborative Research and Forecasting Team (CRAFT) developing model diagnostics, verification, and visualization strategies for high resolution ensemble forecasts, as well as exploring model physics sensitivities and predictability at convective scales.

Dan Dawson · 2009–2011 · University of Oklahoma, 2009

Since finishing his NRC tenure in August 2011, he has taken a brief position as a CIMMS Research Scientist (September-December 2011) and is currently an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow at NSSL/CIMMS. He is currently researching numerical simulations of VORTEX 2 cases with a focus on comparing with microphysical and thermodynamic observations.

Michele Galletti · 2009–2011 · Technische Universitaet Chemnitz, 2009

Before joining NSSL, Michele lived in Munich, Germany and worked for the DLR, the German Aerospace Agency. While at NSSL, he worked on dual-polarization phased array antennas. Michele is currently a research associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Heather Reeves · 2007–2009 · NCSU, 2007

Heather has joined CIMMS as a research associate and specializes in winter weather and mountain meteorology.

Dustan Wheatley · 2007–2009 · Purdue, 2007

Dusty now works at CIMMS. He specializes in ensemble-based data assimilation and participates in a number of different collaborations.

Mike Coniglio · 2004–2006 · University of Oklahoma, 2004

Currently a federal research scientist at NSSL, Mike works closely with the Storm Prediction Center and has developed tools and techniques that aid in the forecasting of severe local storms. He has also helped develop a storm-scale radar data assimilation system using the Ensemble Kalman filter method. Mike is a 2008 recipient of the 2008 Presidential Early Career Award.

Victor Homar · 2002–2004 · University of Balearic Islands, 2002

Victor is currently a permanent full-time researcher at the University of Balearic Islands.

Edward “Ted” Mansell · 2000–2001 · University of Oklahoma, 2000

A specialist in thunderstorm electrification, Ted now works as a federal researcher at NSSL.

Romu is currently “professor titular” (lecturer + research) at the University of Balearic Islands (UIB, Spain). Before accepting this position, he was a NATO fellow with CIMMS in Oklahoma. Romu is also the 2004 recipient of the Plinius Medal by the European Geosciences Union.

David Schultz · 1996–1998 · SUNY Albany, 1996

Dave has had a very productive career that includes co-leading a major field program (IPEX), acting as an NWS forecaster during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, co-founding and acting as associate editor for the Electronic Journal of Severe Storms Meteorology. He is also an associate editor for Atmospheric Science Letters, is on the Editorial Board of Geophysica, and is the current Chief Editor of Monthly Weather Review. In 2001, he was the recipient of the AMS Editor's award for Monthly Weather Review. After leaving NSSL in 2006, Dave was first a professor at the University of Helsinki and Finnish Meteorological Institute, and is now a professor at the University of Manchester in England.

Jeff Trapp · 1994–1995 · University of Oklahoma, 1994

After finishing his NRC fellowship, Jeff moved to Boulder, Colorado and worked as a long-term visitor for NCAR's MMM division. He is now full professor and associated head of the dept. of Earth and Atmos. Sciences at Purdue University. Jeff is also the former Ph.D. advisor for NRC fellows Dustan Wheatley and Nathan Hitchens.

Jeanne Schneider · 1991–1993 · University of Oklahoma, 1991

Jeanne Schneider is presently a meteorologist at the United States Department of Agriculture Grazinglands Research Laboratory in El Reno, Oklahoma.

A world-renowned expert on tornado incidences and safety, Harold is a frequent interviewee of many top news programs including 20/20 and Dateline. Harold is a 3-time awardee of the Environmental Research Laboratories Outstanding Paper Award, the 2002 recipient of the Dept. of Commerce Silver Medal, and a former associate editor of Monthly Weather Review and Weather and Forecasting, and is the current Joint Chief Editor of Weather and Forecasting. He is currently a federal research scientist at NSSL.

N. Balakrishnan · 1987–1989

Balki is currently the Associate Director at The Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. He worked with Dusan Zrnic as an NRC research associate. His research career later on was well-shaped because of his stay at NSSL. He is a fellow of all major science and engineering academies in India, Fellow of TWAS, and the recipient of one of the highest civilian Honors Padma Shree from the President of India.

Hartmut Kapitza · 1987–1989 · GKSS Research Centre, 1987

Since leaving NSSL, Hartmut has developed an interest in modeling of the flow of coastal waters and works at the GKSS Research Centre in the Institute for Coastal Research.

Pravas is currently a professor at the Indian Institute of Science in India. He counts among his professional achievements being the co-recipient of the 1993 Donald G. Fink Prize of IEEE and being awarded a Senior Research Fellowship (1989-1990) at NOAA/NSSL through the NRC program. He has authored a book on Aviation Weather Surveillance Systems, with contributions from colleagues at NSSL, published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Institution of Electrical Engineers in the UK.

Don MacGorman · 1978–1980.

Don is a senior scientist at the NOAA/National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma, where he investigates lightning and other electrical properties of thunderstorms. With Dave Rust, he co-authored a graduate textbook, The Electrical Nature of Storms, published by Oxford University Press in 1988.

Dusan Zrnic · 1973–1974

Dusan's distinguished career started with a professorship at California State University. He later accepted an NRC fellowship at NSSL while on sabbatical from CSU. Dusan is a fellow of the AMS, the IEEE, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the co-recipient of the IEEE 1988 Harry Diamond Memorial Award, the 1993 IEEE Donald G. Fink Prize, the WMO1996 Vaisala Award, the 2004 Presidential Rank Award, and has twice been awarded the Best Research Paper by the Environmental Research Laboratories. Dusan is co-author of the textbook, Doppler Radar and Weather Observations. He is currently working as a federal research scientist at NSSL and has advised 4 NRC fellows (Balakrishnan, Mahapatra, Sachidananda, and Galletti) so far.